Presbyterian mission co-workers conversation

Present: Bob and Wanda Abrams, Larry Ann Bridgeman, Gail Bingham, Sally Pendleton, Bill Gee, Peter Kemmerle (scribe).

Most of the people present have had serious experience with PC(USA)’s mission sending work: Larry Ann and Stu Bridgeman were mission co-workers in Taiwan and in Bangladesh. Bob and Wanda were mission co-workers in India. Bill Gee worked for the General Assembly Council as a photographer, videographer, and video producer and has traveled the world photographing mission co-workers. Gail Bingham works with mission workers doing health ministries. Peter K was missionary in Brazil from 1989 to 1995 and since 1995 has worked for GAC helping mission workers tell their story.

Bob presents information about CHPC-related mission co-workers.

CHPC members who are mission co-workers: Jeff and Christi Boyd, Ruth Farrell, Tricia Lloyd Sidle (clergy member), Dorothy Hanson, John Strong, Bruce and Lora Whearty, Irene and Michael Sivalee, Nancy Collins. Bob says that that he has known Irene Sivalee since she was a “mish kid.”

It’s noted that the Furlough Home at LPTS has contributed greatly to the forging of links between mission workers and CHPC.

The question is: As a first step, “How can we enhance our relationship with our mission co-workers?” (The second step is implicit: “How can we prepare ourselves to be led and informed by our mission co-workers to become more deeply involved in servicing the needs of the world, with which the mission co-workers are more experienced and knowledgeable?”)

Bill Gee wants to know if we are still supporting the work that the Farrells were doing in Peru? Bob clarifies that funds for their ministry was not in our budget, but we’ve always sold the handicrafts made by the Peruvian artisans who Ruth worked with.

Gail explains that she works with the International Health Ministries Office of Presbyterian World Ministries. She suggests that we take advantage of email and write them encouraging emails—let them know that we care, that we’re interested, that we’re praying for them. During our correspondence we shouldn’t make too many demands. We should write regularly but briefly. Gail has talked to many mission workers who have told her how much they appreciate their service. She cautions against offering to send equipment, which can be costly and be more work and expense than its worth.

Sally suggests that we provide a link from the CHPC Web site to the missionconnections Web site, which is at www.pcusa.org/missionconnections.

Wanda remembers the days in the 1950s when women used to send birthday greetings to the missionaries and their children. This ministry seemed to be well appreciated by the missionaries and their families. Birthdays of all mission workers and their children are available on the Web at the Mission Connections site.

Larry Ann recalls how grateful she was when she’d get a magazine that someone would send. She recalls one time she was home alone with nothing to read and had to take to reading cereal boxes.

Peter K recalls how encouraging it was when people wrote to him and showed genuine interest in what he was doing.

Bill Gee wonders about the new way the denomination seems to be putting in place of funding missionaries, that is, requiring missionaries to be much more involved in the raising of funds? How does that effect us? Bob says it’s unfortunate that missionaries are now having to be more active in raising funds. Bob regrets that the old culture is gone and now missionaries have to plead for money.

Bill suggests that maybe we should give more money.

Larry Ann cautions against this because it can favor missionaries who are good speakers and not necessarily good mission workers.

Bob praises the Mission Connections Web site, says it’s by far the best resource for finding out who is doing what where.

Sally suggests that an effective way to help would be simple to ask straightforwardly of the missionaries, ”What would you like from us?”

Bob cautions that we shouldn’t expect immediate or detailed replies to our inquiries because sometimes missionaries are too busy to write detailed responses to everyone who writes them.

Peter K shares how important it is for missionaries to have the chance to tell their story, to share the burden of being a witness to poverty and oppression.

Sally lived in the Philippines. Her dad was in the State Department. She lived in Manila. She recounts to us what a a great time she had sharing with Mary Nebelsick (PC(USA) missionary in Philippines) over Christmas.

Wanda says that the Whearty girls will need household utensils this year because they’ll be living together in an apartment while their parents are serving in Ethiopia. We should keep in touch with them to let them know that we’re still their part of their community. This will ease the Wheartys’ minds.

-- Peter Kemmerle